GEOGRAPHIC VISUALIZATION AS A PLANNING SUPPORT TOOL TO IMPROVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN NEW URBAN DEVELOPMENT DECISION MAKING PROCESSES: GEODESIGNING POTENCIAL HOUSING AREAS AT THE IRON QUADRANGLE IN MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL

Abstract

Planning for the new urban development areas has always been a very contentious issue in local planning in Brazil, as it concentrates important interest conflicts from a diversity of involved stakeholders. Thematic cartography and multiple criteria analytical methods have been widely used as Planning Support Systems, especially with regards to the evaluation of carrying capacity of the territory to guide the location of these areas. However, data and technical information communication to communities is still a barrier to the extension of participatory decision making processes, which has enhanced the importance of geovisualization tools. This paper discusses the results of a simulated collaborative planning process at an academic workshop when Geodesign framework (STEINITZ, 2012) and geovisualization resources have been used to provide simultaneous information sharing, knowledge leveraging and establishment of preconditions for defning areas for urban growth. The outcomes showed the broad analytical and communication possibilities provided by the applied methods, which can be replicated in similar situations, involving non technical individuals with no specifc knowledge for traditional cartography reading skills.